Spanish Peaks State Wildlife Area

The United States Congress designated the Spanish Peaks Wilderness in 2000, and it now has a total of 19,226 acres. Los Cumbres Españolos, the Spanish Peaks, are snow-capped summits, rising 7,000 feet above the arid plains, which made the "Double Mountain" an easily recognizable reference point to travelers of all cultures.

The peaks have traditional and religious significance to American Indian Tribes, including the Comanche and Ute. Summer thunderstorms, which often form near the summits, were evidence the rain gods worked their magic on the peaks. The common Indian name appears in at least three different spellings in various accounts, reflecting different renditions of oral expression. These are "Wahatoya," Huajatolla" or Guajatoyah," roughly interpreted as "breasts of the earth." West Spanish Peak, with an elevation of 13,623 feet, overtops the East Peak, which only has an elevation of 12,708 feet. However, this difference is not readily discernible from a distance.

The Spanish Peaks are geologically distinct from the faulted and uplifted mountains of the Sangre de Cristo range to the west. To the geologist, the Spanish Peaks are prime examples of "stocks," which are defined as large masses of molten rock that intruded layers of sedimentary rock and were later exposed by erosion. When mapped by geologists, the peaks were found to be masses of granite, granodiorite and syenodiorite. Among the most unusual features of the Spanish Peaks are the great dikes that radiate out from the mountains like spokes of a wheel. These walls of rock are often spectacular.

Things to Do

Activities Hunting, Nature Viewing, Hiking and Walking

Hunting Opportunities Deer, Elk, Rabbit, Squirrel, Turkey

Plan Your Visit

Please help keep wilderness wild by following Leave No Trace practices.

Getting Here Find a map on our Visitor Maps and Guides page or visit Wilderness.net for additional maps and information about wilderness.

Restrictions A. Access only from established parking areas. Parking only in designated areas. B. Camping allowed by licensed hunters during big-game, spring and fall turkey season, plus 3 days before and 3 days after each season. C. Fires allowed within established containment structure in designated camping areas.

Additional Information Road between Dochter Tract and Sakariason Tract is closed when wet.